Sprinkler head



June 3, 1947.

D. F. DUNHAM SPRINKLER HEAD Filed oct. 13,'.1944

end thereof above member 4 for holding the impulse member in operativeposition.

Member 3 also has a radial extension I3 which is adapted to support theregulator in oscillatable position on the upper side thereof as by meansof a pin I9 extended through extension I8 and held by means of a bushing20 press fitted into a counterbore of said extension (See Fig. 3).Impulse member 4 has diametrically disposed arms 4a and 4b which have,respectively, a downwardly slanting vane 2| and a depending boss 22,vane 2| being movably disposed relative to the nozzle I4 and boss 22being movable over and relative to regulator 5. Arm `lla of impulsemember 4 also has a pair of laterally inclined wings 4c and 4d (Fig. 2)which flare outwardly and incline downwardly to a uniform extent onopposite sides of vane 2|. Thus, regardless of whether the vane 2| ispositioned centrally or to one or the other side of the center of thenozzle I4, the force of the water jet fromz said nozzle when directedagainst the lower surfaces of the inclined wings will tend tocorrespondingly move the impulse member ,in opposite directions to apredetermined extent and the head 3 in a given direction until itsmovement is stopped by one of the limiting elements 6 or under thecontrol, however, of the regulator 5.

When the impulse member il and the head 3 have progressed in a givendirection, in a stepby-step movement as later explained, together aboutthe axis of the body I and throughout the extent of a predetermined arc,the element 6 or as the case may be, is engaged by a, rod 23 whichdepends from the center of one edge of the regulator 5 whereuponrotative movement of the member 3 and the impulse member Il in onedirection is stopped and successive swinging movements of the impulsemember which are occasioned by the force of water against the opposedwing [Ic or 4d and vane 2| occasions the reverse movement of the member3 and impulse member 4 in the manner I will now explain.

Member 5 is at all times free to swing in one or the other direction onits axis I9 and it includes a flat plate 24 with upstanding pins 25 and25a adjacent its extremities and of such height as to engage and limitthe movement of impulse member 4 to a predetermined arc whereby thewings @c and 4d are alternately under the influence of the water jet.Also member 5 has a pair of shorter upstanding pins 26 and 26a inwardlyof pins 25 and 25a, respectively, adapted to engage the peripheralsurface of the depending portion 22 at times. The outermost portion ofthe periphery of portion 22 of the impulse member is cut away as at 2lso that when the regulator is in alternate positions relative to themember 4 the portion 22 may swing free of pin 26 or 26a, as the case maybe.

The extent of rotation of members 3, II and 5 about the axis ofstationary fixture I, in any direction, may be limited by the stopelements 6 and 'I carried on the stationary xture I. Said elements 5 andI have one or more turns, as at 6a and 1a, tightly-wound around theportion 9 of fixture I so as to be frictionally held in adjustedpositions thereon and radially extended portions 6b and 1b,respectively, projected into the path of the depending rod 23 frommember 5. Thus, the portions b and Ib may be turned to a desired extentaround the xture I for limiting the swinging of the members 3, 4 and 5to a. desired extent, even to the extent, when portions 6b and 'Ib areclose together or superposed, of permitting the oscillations of the headto an operable extent of 360 degrees for the purpose of sprinkling alarge area of a lawn.

Thus, from the foregoing description and the illustration of mysprinkler head in the drawing it will be apparent that there are threeseparate cooperating movements of the head and the elements which adaptthe device for adequately sprinkling water over an expanse of lawn. Suchmovements may be dened as follows: rst, the natural spread of a streamof water issuing from the jet or nozzle Ill; second, the sweep of theimpulse member 4 which diffuses the water over a restricted area; andthird', the progressive movement of the head circularly about the axisof the stationary iixture within the range of a predetermined arc,depending upon the adjustment of the limiting elements 6 and Due to theforce of the stream of water issuing from the nozzle Hl the vane 2| willbe moved to one or the other side of the nozzle and in the absence ofthe wings 4Ic and 4d, unless otherwise actuated, could not swing in areverse direction.

The regulator 5 serves to limit the swinging of the vane 2| and thewings 4c and 4d to extremes of movement always within the influence ofthe water jet and, due to the angularity and disposition of the wings,the force of .the water stream is directed against one of the wings soas to eiect a return stroke of the impulse member in the direction ofthe then operative wing, after which movement the impulse member ismoved to an opposite extreme and the other wing is effective foroccasioning a reverse stroke.

The regulator 5 with its upstanding pins 25 and 25a and pins 25 and 26athereon limits the sweep of the impulse member 4, and at the same timethe impact of said impulse member with pins 26 and 26a, or either ofthem, gradually and progressively swings the head 3 on its pivot il! ina stepby-step movement until stopped by engagement of rod 23 withlimiting element 6 or Successive impacts of the impulse member with thepins 25 and 25a, as the case may be, tend to rotate the water jet member3 in one or the other direction to an extent permitted by the adjustmentof the limiting elements 6 or 'I. For instance, as shown in Fig. 4, whenrod 23 of regulator 5 engages limiting element 'Ib the head will haverotated on member as far as possible in a clockwise direction and itwill now begin a, counter-clockwise movement in the direction of itsother extreme of movement as deiined by the position of the limitingelement Bb. At such point in the operation of the device, it will beremembered that the member i is still oscillating and the successiveimpacts of the portion 22 on pin 26 will gradually swing the head in acounter-clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 5, toran opposite extremeof movement, during which time, of course the members 3 and 4 have beenmoved progressively, in a step-by-step movement about the axis ofstationary fixture and such progress of member 3 will continue untilagain stopped by engagement of rod 23 with the limiting element Bb, atwhich time a reverse movement of the member 3 will ensue.

After the iirst impact of the stream of water on vane 2| has caused thehead to knock the regulator 5 into a position in which one pair of pins25, 26 or 25a, 26a is located closer to the axis of rotation of the headthan the other pair of pins, the rotation of the head in a step-by-stepmanner is caused by the impact of the depending portion 22 to greaterforce against the pin 26 1 olf-1:26a nearer the axis :than-against *the*pin "or2f5a 'struckon the reversestroke. When the movement of the headin each"-siv`i1igis"arre`sted by'thei impact 'ofi thelide'perdingimember 22 lwith a-'pin,}the -iorce lof 'the-'water againstthe upward and inwardly sloping vane defied-arY is sufficienti-'to starttheI head-svvinging-in the -`opposite Ldirection and *bring vthe:vertical `vane 4into the :streamof water and past' the center' linethereof, Whereupon; the extra f force "oft the Water'laoting on `tl'ievertical'yane 'on-"one '-side'vvill acoelerateimovement of YAthe "head"in' the"direction'inwhich iifis alreadymoving until' theiidownwardsl'ope" of the vane Ufollc'ivt'fin'g will cause"the mo'vemerfit"to *be slowedldownjbut toalesser"degre"e on' the shorter l 'swing 'thanon fthe longer-swing. AThe f foro'e of theiimpa'ct-of'theid'ependingpart`f22on a'pinis therefore greater at" lonerendof theswing "of thehead"3v than'fat' the 'other resulting intu'rning'the head ina series`of jerks in'one direction until rod 2'3"strikes the'stOp''lbA or 1b.'Since"the"re`g'ulator 5 in `its loperative position 'carries the ro'dA23 slightlyaheadof the 'pivotal i point of the regulator,4engagement"of the-rodwith the'stop will swing the `regulator "in the'opposite rdirection 'so that the-opposite .pair'of pinsfvi'ill'bebrought nearer the *axis of rotationl of th`elie'ad 'resulting in thereverse movement of* the 'head "3 until* the otherstopisstruck'bythe'rdd 23.

fIt should be distinctly Aunderstood that `tlJ'e operation o'f thelimpulse "member oontir'iue's "as longas wateriisissuedfrom the'noz'zlef4 and regardiess` of'the relative position -o iithe member 3`Withregardto stationaryxture 'I When'the rotative movementof 'member'l isstopped ""by i engagement of the rod `'23 -vvithoneof the limitingelements'orT, the force of the Water'is"exert'ed clothe-member 4,through Wings 4c"an:lld,"to return Asaid 'member d 'to' anopposite'extremeof movement. This is i occasioned by 4the fact that theforce which `is "applied to vane 2l "and 'the Wing lloor "4'd,'as"thecasem'aybe, then'is applied to said vane and *an opposite Wingf'orreverselymoving the same.

A"Itinay" be noted that inimy 'sprinklerfh'eadthe impulse 4member '4 ismounted l"coaxially with membersll an'd3 While the 'regulator`ismoiinted on an axis orf-set from vthe axis "of "the limpulse member 4and member.

'-Hen'ca it may be understood thatasihereindisl'os'ed Ilhave provideda'rotative'sprinklerihead embodying a stationary xtur'e attachabletoaWater "service pipe, (a Water "nozzle rotatable thereon, adjustable`mea`ns for 'limiting "theeifective arc'o'f said nozzle, 'animpuls'emembervrotatalle on as Well aswith saidnozz'le'aid h'avr'igmeans-disposedadjacent the nozzle vadapted `t`o be 'influenced by' astream of' water issuirigtherefrom for alternately 'movin'g'theimpul'semember in opposite directions, and a regulator cooperating with Ysaidimpulse `member for limiting the sweep of the impulse member during therotation of s'aidmemberlaboutthe a-xisofthesupporting fixture. y

I claim:

1. A rotary sprinkler comprising: a stationary fixture arranged forconnection with a source'o'f waterfsupplyya'nozzle rotatable thereon,animpuls'e 'member rotatable Vboth on 'and with "said nozzle and havingmeans disposed adjacent said nozzle and under the inuence of the streamof Water issuable from said nozzle including a central vane and inclinedwings outwardly of opposite sides of said vane for oscillating theimpulse member so as to direct the stream of water over a predeterminedarea, -`and cooperating means on said ztureand" associated with "saidimpulse vine-moer -for f limiting the movement of the nozzle the"impulse i member together in the opposite directions *and to apredetermined extent. 2. a rotary spr-initier comprising: y-a stationaryiixtufe' fjiioiiowA cross section adapted for conneoti'onj"vv'ithl asource of water supplyfa headrotatable thereon-rand provid-ed With'caradially" disposed Water jetyandanimpulse-member oscillatably mounted onsaid head andformedwith a *Verticallyf disposed varieand laterallyinclin'ed wingsfextendingfrom oppositesidesfof said vane andbent"dovvnvvar`dly"at their extremities; Said impulse member* being"bodily 'oscillatalole to permit the"'sit/'ingingl "of `s'aid vaneandWings "to l"arid frorelative-toisaid'vvater jet `dueito theirfluerice of'a 'singlestream-of 'Water'issuable from "said let.

'3. rotary `sprinkler Aas 'characterized inelaim 2 including: "aregulatorpivotally 'carried on said head anidha'ving' anaxisparallelin'g that 'of the impulse member and'havin'g'portionsdisposed inthepath of 'a'portion of the' mpulseme'mber for limitingithesweepofrfthe impulse member" during the rotation of the impulse member "andheadrelative t'o the support.

4. A rotary sprinkler as characterized inolaim 2 including:"aregulatorpivotallyearried `on said headari'd'h'avinglan'axis'oieset from that ofthe impulse member 'an'dliaving'-v portions 'disposed in the4 pathYofaportion 'of "the impulsemember' :for limiting mesure-ep f 'theimpulsememberduririg the rotati'onof the impulse" member 'andheadrelative'to the 'supporta `pair of vlimiting 'lements adjustablerotatively v"on said "stationary support, and means carriedbysaidregulator"`for engagement'altei'n`ately Withsai'd pair 'of limiting"elemerits' for arresting'the "rotati've' moveme'nt'fof theimpulse"mei'nberl and jet'at theextr'emes of kpredetermined arcsbfmovement.

5. 'Airotary' sprinkler "comprising: "a iiiture 'attaliabl'e to a"sourde 'of "Water "supply, a head rotatable "there'on'an'dprovided'vvith `a Water jet, an *impulsememb'er "ooaXially mounted von'said heaiiabove said 'jet zfor 'common rotation with theiiead ons'aid'xtuife' andindepeiidentiy oscillatable on 'said head, 'and 'aVregulator pivotally carried by said Head and osciu'atable fon axisiadiallyspaoed from and paraileiirig 4'the axis' of the elfieadand'liaving spaced elements disposed in "the path of the "impulse"member for limiting the' movement'of the impulse 'member in 'oppositedireotiohs, 'said'im'pulse member having "a varie dSlSd e'gWSealjace'n't the Walter `jt and soleiyunidertnein'iiuenee of a stream of"Water issuable fro'm said jet 6. Arotary`spri'nklercompriein'g: a atureattaehable to "a 'source of 'Water "supply, a head rtatabletlereon andprovidedvvitha Water jet, an impulse member coaxially mounted 'on 'Saidheaf'r c''nlnon rotation Withthe'hea'd n's'aid natur-e and independentlyosciuatabie on said headpandaregulator pivotally 'carried by'saidheadarido'soillatable'onan aids olT-set'from the axis yoftheheaiiAand*havingspacedeieriieiits disposed i'n 'the rpath of "the impulsemember I'for limiting 'the movement 'of v the impulse Amember inopposite directions, said impulse member having a vane disposededgevvise adjacent the Water jet and solely under the inuence of astream of Water issuable from said jet, and laterally disposed inclinedwings extended from opposite sides of said vane against which the waterfrom said jet impinges so as to alternately move the impulse member indiierent directions.

7. A rotary sprinkler as characterized in claim including: a pair offrictionally adjustable limiting elements carried by said xture forarresting the rotative movement of the head and impulse member atpredetermined points, and means carried by said regulator alternatelyengageable with said pair of limiting elements, said impulse memberbeing arranged for continuous oscillation regardless of the stoppage orthe rotative movement of the head.

8. A rotary sprinkler comprising: a stationary fixture adapted forconnection with a source of water supply, a head freely rotatable withinpredetermined limits on said fixture and having a radially extendednozzle from which a stream of water is issuable during the rotation ofthe head, an impulse member coaxially mounted on said head foroscillation within predetermined limits and also rotatable with saidhead, said impulse member having a central vane and wings laterallyinclined therefrom which are together movable in an arc adjacent saidnozzle and under the influence of a jet of water issuable from saidnozzle, for providing a forward and backward sweep of the stream ofwater during the progressive rotative movement of the nozzle and streamabout the axis of said fixture,

9. A rotary sprinkler as characterized in claim 8 including: a regulatorhaving an axis oli-set from but paralleling the axis of the head andprovided with spaced elements disposed in the path of a portion of theimpulse member for limiting the oscillation of the impulse member.

10. A rotary sprinkler as characterized in claim 8 including: meansadjustably carried by said iixture for arresting the rotative movementof the impulse member and head, and means carried by the regulator andengageable with said arresting means, whereby at the completion of amovement of the impulse member and head in a given direction a reversemovement will be instituted.

11. A rotary sprinkler comprising: a supporting fixture adapted forconnection with a source of water supply, a head rotatable on saidfixture, a nozzle on said head, an impulse member coaxially mounted onsaid head for oscillation in an arc of less extent than that of the headand including a diametrically disposed bar having a vane and a pair ofoppositely inclined wings at one end thereof, a regulator oscillatablymounted on said head in a position off-set from the impulse member andhaving spaced stop devices extended upwardly therefrom and engageablewith the rear end of said impulse member for arresting the oscillativemovement of the impulse member alternately in opposite directions, thevane and wings of the impulse member being movable relative to thenozzle solely under the influence of a single stream of water issuablefrom the nozzle,

12. A rotary sprinkler as characterized in claim 11 including: meanscarried by said head and by said fixture cooperatively arranged forarresting the rotative movement of the head and the impulse member atopposite extremes of their rotative arc, said last mentioned arrestingmeans including rotatably adjustable elements carried by the xture andan element carried by and depending from said regulator and engageablewith the rotatable elements.

13. A sprinkler comprising: a xture attachable to a water service pipe,a head rotatable thereon and having a vertical passage therein for thepassage of water therethrough, an impulse member rotatable both with andindependently of the head on an axis coaxial with that of the head, ajet nozzle in communication with said vertical passage, a regulatorpivotally mounted on a. vertical axis at a point diametrically oppositethe nozzle and provided with spaced upstanding stops disposed in thepath of a rear portion of the impulse member for limiting the movementof the impulse member in opposite directions relative to the head, saidimpulse member having a forward extension formed with a vane disposedadjacent the nozzle and laterally inclined wings on opposite sides ofsaid vane, whereby a jet of water issuing from said nozzle will impingeon land inuence the rotation Amovement of the impulse member on the headto an extent permitted by said stops and successive impacts between therear portion of the impulse member and stops alternately will occasionrotative movement of the head on the xture and thus spread the waterover a predetermined area.

14. A sprinkler comprising: a fixture attachable to a water servicepipe, a head rotatable thereon and having a vertical passage therein forthe passage of water therethrough, an impulse member rotatable both withand independently of the head on an axis coaxial with that of the head,a jet nozzle in communication with said vertical passage, a regulatorpivotally mounted on a vertical axis at a point diametrically oppositethe nozzle and provided with spaced upstanding stops disposed in thepath of a rear portion of the impulse member for limiting the movementof the impulse member in opposite directions relative to the head, saidimpulse member having a forward extension formed with a vane disposedadjacent the nozzle and laterally inclined wings on opposite sides ofsaid vane, whereby a jet of Water issuing from said nozzle will impingeon andinfluence the rotation movement of the impulse member on the headto an extent permitted by said stops and successive impacts between therear portion of the impulse member and stops alternately will occasionrotative movement of the head on the fixture and thus spread the Waterover a predetermined area, a pair of stops carried by the xture whichare separately adjustable rotatably about the common axis of thehead andimpulse member, and a member depending from said regulator to a positionof engagement with said last mentioned stops for limiting the rotativemovement of the head.

DELBERT F. DUNHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,309,782 on Feb. 2,19431,710,107 Orr Apr. 23,1929

